10 Best Outdoor Adventures in South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class ski resort in South Lake Tahoe. The sprawling resort complex is conveniently just outside of the city with the base of the gondola just a 5-minute walk away from the city outskirts. It’s widely considered as one of the best ski resorts in the country.

The resort offers 97 runs and 30 ski lifts spread over the state border. There are also two terrain parks with jumps, boxes and pipes set up to try. The slopes around South Lake Tahoe average around 360 inches of snow each year, so there’s always fresh powder in winter. In summer, you can still enjoy the scenic gondola ride to the top, along with zip lines and rope courses at the resort.

The Tahoe Rim Trail is one of the greatest long-distance trails in the USA. The 170-mile long hiking loop goes around Lake Tahoe's perimeter through both California and Nevada. It passes through 6 counties, 1 state park, 3 national forests and 3 wilderness areas on its entire journey.

A thru-hike of the trail typically takes between 10 to 15 days, with its highest point being Relay Peak at 10,335 ft. The trail offers diverse scenery with alpine lakes, snow-capped mountain ridges and views of Lake Tahoe. There are 10 trailheads along the way, with around half of them being easily accessible from South Lake Tahoe. You can enjoy horseback riding on all sections of the trail as well.

Mount Tallac is one of the most challenging hikes around South Lake Tahoe. The reward of summiting one of the area's tallest peaks is an incredible panoramic view of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The 11-mile return trail begins from the trailhead at the end of Mt Tallac Road, around 7.5 miles from the city centre of South Lake Tahoe. It's a challenging climb over tough terrain with an elevation gain of 3,500 ft. However, the views from the top of Mount Tallac, which sits at 9,735 ft, are among the best you'll find in the entire region.

Kayak Tahoe is a beachfront rental service for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards with 5 locations around the shoreline near South Lake Tahoe. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the scenery and pristine waters of Lake Tahoe is to take a kayak or paddleboard out on the water.

Kayak Tahoe has kiosks in Emerald Bay, Pope Beach, Nevada Beach, Baldwin Beach and South Lake Tahoe, from where there are various shoreline paddling excursions to choose from. It’s possible to also hire a kayak for longer multi-day trips on the water with campsites available along the shore.

Mr Toad's Wild Ride bike trail is a downhill mountain bike trail near South Lake Tahoe. The trail is a 9-mile, one-way track also known as Saxon Creek Trail. It begins at an intersection with the Tahoe Rim Trail and heads down along Saxon Creek towards the small town of Meyers, 7.5 miles south of South Lake Tahoe.

The track is a favourite among mountain biking enthusiasts. It's considered a technical and difficult track with over 3,200 vertical ft of elevation change. You can enjoy expansive views and beautiful forests on the ride that is best from June until October if you wish to avoid the icy conditions in winter.

Emerald Bay State Park is a landmarked park incorporating Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. It's just 11.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe. It's known for its glacier-covered granite peaks and panoramic views of the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe.

The park spans 1,533 acres including some hiking and biking trails, campgrounds and opportunities for water sports. The highlight for many people is the incredible landscape, including waterfalls, the emerald coloured water of the lake and forest-covered mountains. Emerald Bay State Park is home to the national landmarked Vikingsholm Castle, a 38-room mansion, considered to be one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in the country.

Van Sickle Bi-State Park is a public recreation area that straddles the border between Nevada and California in the Tahoe Basin. It sits on the slopes above South Lake Tahoe and overlooking the lake. The park area has miles hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, as well as a series of historic buildings. 

Van Sickle Bi-State Park is a memorial to the late Henry Van Sickle, with the family's ranch and log cabins still intact within the park boundaries. The easy and moderate trails are great for short outdoor excursions with incredible views across Lake Tahoe. The onsite Rim Trail Connector takes you to a part of the long-distance Tahoe Rim Trail.

Fallen Leaf Lake is a mountain lake, just 1 mile south of the shores of Lake Tahoe. The stunning glacial lake stretches for 3 miles long, offering outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and camping.

The Fallen Leaf Campground sits at the northern end of the lake, while there is a small township at the southern end of the lake with more lodging. There are a variety of trails to explore around the shoreline, with Angora Ridge being the most popular. If you prefer a peaceful fishing experience, there’s a bounty of trout you can catch in Fallen Leaf Lake.

Camp Richardson Corral is a family-run horseback riding school just outside of South Lake Tahoe. The pack station originally opened in 1934 and the Ross family has been running it ever since. They also offer lessons and guided rides at reasonable rates.

You can choose from a range of horse-riding tours, from a short 1-hour excursion into the National Forest up to extended day-long rides with spectacular lake views. Camp Richardson Corral is perfect for kids, with summer hay wagon rides and winter sleigh rides on offer, meaning you can visit all year round.